Device for propelling boats



(NoModeL) J. H. BOWERS.

DEVICE FOR PROPELLING BOATS.

No. 336,787. Patented Feb "23, 1886.

WITNESSES UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN H. BOWVERS, OF MOUND CITY, MISSOURI.

DEVICE FOR PROPELLING BOATS.

SPECIFICATION forming part Of Letters Patent NO. 336,787, dated February 23, 1886.

Application filed November 12, 1885. Serial No.182,589; (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J HN H. BOWERS, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Mound City, in the county of Holt and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Devices for Propelling Boats; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters or figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in mechanical movement, the same being a device for converting a vertical oscillating movement into a rotary movement, said device being especially adapted for propelling boats, the same having means for throwing either one or both of the wheels attached to the driving-shaft out of gear with the operating mechanism; and my invention consists in the construction and combination of the parts as will be hereinafter fully set forth, and specifically pointed out in claim.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate my invention, Figure l is a plan view of a boat, showing my invention applied to the same- Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view, and Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the operating mechanism.

A represents a boat which is provided fore and aft of its center with seats a a, and-said boat has jourualed to its gunwale shafts B B, which extend inwardly to near the center of the frame 0, which supports the operating mechanism. The shafts B B are provided on their outer ends with paddle wheels of ordinary construction, and said shafts, near their inner ends, are each provided with cog- Wheels D, which move upon afeather formed on the shaft B, said cog-wheels being adapted to be moved laterally upon the driving-shafts B. The cog-wheels D are each provided on their outer sides with a recessed projecting portion, d, with which engages a bifurcated end of a lever, E, which is pivotally attached to the rear transverse bar 0 of the frame 0.

To the center of the frame 0, extending from the front transverse bar 6 to the rear trans verse bar 6, is a slotted or bifurcated connecting-bar, F, which is provided with journals in which the inner ends of the shafts B are secured, and to the rear portion of this connecting'bar is attached a bent bar, G, which extends upwardly and rearwardly and is connected to abrace-bar, G, which extends downwardly and forwardly to the front end of the bar G. The bent bar G, near its upper end, is provided with transverse bearings, through which passes a shaft, g,which is provided with a forwardly-projecting arm, 9, the end of which is connected to a pitman, H, which extends downwardly and is pivotally connected to a crank-shaft, B. The ends of the shaft 9 are rigidly connected to the center portions of bars I, the ends of said bars being provided with handle-bars 2', said handlebars extending in front and rear of the frame. The crank-shaft B is journaled at its ends to depending hangers attached to the frame 0, and said crank-shaft has rigidly attached thereto cog-wheels C.

To propel a boat by means of the mechanism hereinbefore described, the handle-bars are reciprocated or oscillated vertically, which movement is communicated by means of the pitman and theprojecting bar 9 and the crankshaft B, so as to rotate the same and the cogwheels mounted thereon, said rotary motion being communicated to the shafts B through the cog-wheels D.

When it is desired to operate only one of the paddle-wheels, one of the levers is thrown to one side, which disconnects the cog-wheels D from the cog-wheel 0, thus permitting one of the shafts to remain idle, while the other is rotated in the usual manner.

I claim The combination, substantially as herein described, of a crank-shaft having cog-wheels rigidly attached thereto, independent driv ingshafts having cog-wheels secured thereon so as to move laterally into and out of open ative connection to the other cogs, said shafts carrying paddle -wheels at their outer ends, and an oscillating frame, I, connected to the crank-shaft by pitmen, and levers for throwing the cog-wheels out of gear with each other, substantially as shown, and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I affixmy signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN H. BOWEBS.

\Vitnesses:

J ACOB SILvUsE, GEO. A. SHAMBERGER. 

